Manchester United clashed with a limp Tottenham Saturday taking home all three points in a must win match for Ole. United switched things around for the match and went with a 3-4-1-2 system. Raphael Varane started in the center of a back three with Victor Lindelof and captain Harry Maguire on either side of him. This meant Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Luke Shaw were the two wing backs on either side of Fred and Scott McTominay in midfield. Bruno Fernandes played just in front of them as the link up man to the two strikers, Edison Cavani and Cristiano Ronaldo.
First Half
United started the half with a lot of energy and determination. For the first couple of minutes the team looked like they were still working out the new system giving Spurs some decent possession. It looked as if United would be giving up too much possession with this system and end up tiring themselves out chasing the ball.
Both sides looked like teams with tons of pressure on them to get three points and played very passive. It wasn’t until Heung-min Song gets behind Uniteds defence bearing down on goal in the 35th minute that United seemed to play with more urgency. Wan-Bissakka makes up ground with his pace and times a perfect slide tackle taking the ball off of Song and out for a corner.
Ronaldo Gets his First in Four
In the 39th minute Fernandes chips a perfectly weighted ball over Ben Davies head for Ronaldo to hit a first time volley back across goal past Hugo Lloris. This was Ronaldo’s first goal in four matches. He hasn’t gone that long without a goal since he played for Real Madrid. United were able to cruise to half time with a one goal lead. Spurs fans made their displeasure with the teams ineffective, timid play known with lots of loud boo’s.
Second Half
Second half started with neither team making any changes. Tottenham looked incapable of keeping hold of the ball at midfield and repeatedly gave the ball away. This meant United were able to hit them on the break almost at will. In the 49th minuted Ronaldo has a wonderful goal taken away for off side. From a David De Gea goal kick the ball falls to McTominay slides a through ball to Ronaldo and smashes the ball into the back of the net. Sadly the Portuguese Captain started the move offside and VAR take it away.
Cavani Gets his First of the Season
Cavani gets his first goal of the season in the 64th minute hitting Spurs on the counter once again. Oliver Skipp gets the ball taken off of him by Fernandes and he is able to find Ronaldo on the right. Ronaldo dribbles past Skipp and looks up to see Cavani timing a run perfectly behind Tottenham’s defence. With only an on rushing Lloris to beat he hits the ball around the Spurs keeper and into the back of the net. 2 – 0 to United.
Marcus Rashford Makes it 3 – 0
With both teams looking like they are going to be taking the rest of the match off, Rashford has other ideas. After coming on for Ronaldo in the 71st minute, Rashford gets his goal playing off the shoulder of the last Tottenham defender and gets himself in on goal. The English striker hits shot around a helpless Lloris for 3 – 0. Tottenham look absolutely dreadful. Spurs looked to be completely toothless, especially Harry Kane up top. The England Captain had no impact whatsoever on the game and looks to be hungover still from his transfer drama this summer.
United Back to Winning Ways?
Even though Ole switched the system and United played really well today, it is still way past Ole’s time in charge. We need a new manager in pronto, whom ever they may be. This was a good win and we needed these three points to stay somewhat close to the top of the table but this doesn’t mean that Ole is all of a sudden a good manager. We still need to get a proven winner in at the helm. You will always be a legend Ole, just not the manager that can take the team back to the top spot of the Premier League.
